Rock Transformation Review

Rock A formed from small pieces of rock.

Rock B formed from liquid rock in a different place. Rocks A and B formed at about the same time.

Are Rocks A and B the same or different types of rock?

• the same type because they both formed from rock material.

• the same type because they formed at the same time.

• different types because they formed in different ways.

• different types because they formed in different places.

Jeffery passes by a building every day on his way to work. He notices that the rock used to build the walls of the building is a different type than the rock used to build the steps. How could energy have played a role in the different rock types forming?

• Energy from different sources leads to different types of rock. Energy inside Earth melts rock into liquid rock, but energy from the sun causes rock to weather into small pieces of rock.

• Energy causes different types of rock to change in different ways. Energy changes igneous rock into liquid rock and changes sedimentary rock into small pieces of rock.

• Energy caused one rock type to form, but not the other. Rock that forms because of energy is a different type of rock than rock that forms without energy.

• Energy changes rock on different continents in different ways. Each continent on Earth has different rock that might form liquid rock or small rock pieces when exposed to energy.

Could the material for igneous rock come from sedimentary rock?

• Yes, if sedimentary rock is exposed to energy from the sun at Earth’s surface for a long enough time, it can melt into liquid rock and form igneous rock.

• Yes, if sedimentary rock is moved below Earth’s outer layer and exposed to energy from Earth’s interior, it can melt into liquid rock and form igneous rock.

• No, igneous rock can only form from other igneous rock. Sedimentary rock cannot change into igneous rock.

• No, igneous rock forms under Earth’s outer layer due to energy from Earth’s interior, but sedimentary rock only forms at Earth’s surface.

On the island of Hawaii, Paul notices that the sand on the beach is black, the same color as the rock formations on the island. . How did material from the rock formations turn into sand?

• Rays from the sun shone down on the rock, and it broke into pieces.

• If anything were left out for a long time, it would break into small pieces.

• The sand was formed by earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. These disasters were strong enough to break the rock into small pieces.

• Wind and rain interacted with the rock, breaking it into small pieces.

How does metamorphic rock form?

• Rocks don’t form; they stay as they are.

• It melted and cooled.

• It broke into sediment and then compacted.

• It was heated and put under pressure.

Thomas is going on a trip. Thomas wonders how the rock they see as they drive over the mountain range might be different when they drive back home next week. What would you tell Thomas about how the rock will change?

• The rock will probably change a lot. Rock is always changing and transforming.

• The rock is not likely to change very much. Most rock transformation processes happen very slowly.

• The rock will not change at all. Rock just stays as it is.

• The rock might change if it is the right season.

Sue sees small pieces of rock along the trail. The small pieces look just like the rock that the mountain is made from. How did these small pieces of rock break off from the mountain?

• Wind and rain interacted with the rock, breaking it into small pieces.

• The small pieces of rock were formed by earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. These disasters were strong enough to break the rock into small pieces.

• Rays from the sun shone down on the rock, and it broke into pieces.

• If anything were left out for a long time, it would break into small pieces.